Othello by Shakespeare: Stereotypical Barriers Essay

In the play, “Othello” by Shakespeare, though the expectations of women are to remain silent and obedient towards men, Desdemona tends to voice out her opinion whereas Emilia conforms to the stereotypical barriers by following the image of what women are expected to be like. To begin, Desdemona shows confidence in her love and fights for her opinion in marrying Othello, the love of her life. After hearing her father’s response to her decision, she argues saying, “But here’s my husband/And so much duty as my mother showed/To you, preferring you before her father” (1.3.183-185). Although marrying Othello means to go against Desdemona’s own fathers input, she still continues to confidently voice out her opinion and allows her father to know how much she loves Othello. As a result of her actions, she ultimately breaks the stereotypical barriers and goes against the expected role of women which is to remain obedient and silent. Moreover, rather than silently accepting Iago’s insults, Desdemona is bound to speak up when she believes is right. As Iago expresses his negative input towards women, Desdemona replies saying, “O, most lame and impotent conclusion! Do not learn of /him, Emilia, though he be thy husband” (2.1.158-159). Desdemona takes offence when Iago shares his negative input about women in an ignorant matter and tells Emilia to ignore his opinion. By giving such a defensive response to it, she demonstrates herself as an opinionated woman by defending women, which ultimately results in her breaking stereotypical barriers as she does not follow the expectations. On the contrary, Emilia is well aware of the expected stereotypical barriers as she does not have the potential to argue out her opinions during certain situations. Furthermore, Emilia does not question Iagos orders. Without giving it a thought, Emilia immediately leaves the scene once Iago says, “Be not acknown on’t:/ I have use for it. Go leave me” (3.3.320-321). Although Iago does not express his appreciation towards Emilia’s scheme, Emilia does not argue and leaves immediately when she is told to. Emilia’s departure from the scene portrays her awareness of the stereotype which women are expected to…

Othello is simultaneously – and variably – a respected member of Venetian society and an outsider. How does Shakespeare use dramatic and language techniques to reveal this over the course of the l play? Support your view with detailed reference to the play, including the extract.
Respect does not equal acceptance. Othello is a prime example of a character revelling in admiration from his society, however still held captive by the constraints of his colour. He is a black man in a white Venetian…

Othello
The differences in the mind set of men and women are remarkable, particularly within the realm of love and lust. William Shakespeare’s Othello explores this relationship further, reaching into the ideas of men and power. These differences in opinion and thought are what, in the end, ruin lives and change the course of events throughout the play. There is an unbelievable barrier between the minds of women and men within the realm of sex and love and whether the two are interconnected…

How does Shakespeare present the journey of Othello’s character throughout the play and to what extent is he a tragic hero?
Shakespeare portrays Othello’s character as a complex one. Throughout the whole play Othello experiences different emotions such as love, hate and even jealousy. Othello’s journey is shown through a intense series of ups and downs.
At the beginning of the play Othello was known as a hero of ‘being in the military success’. He was known to his people to be confident, brave…

How the concept of the Outsider is represented in Shakespeare’s Othello
Shakespeare’s Othello clearly represents the concept of what an outsider is by comparing and contrasting the two main characters Desdemona and Iago. Through Shakespeare’s Othello the concept of being an outsider is questioning how society’s representation of an outsider is formed, why people become outsiders and the consequences of being an outsider.
An outsider is a person who is not accepted by or who is isolated from society…

"In Act 1 Shakespeare establishes Othello and Desdemona as outsiders in the Venetian Society"
Black, racially different to the aristocratic society, stereotypes, racist attitudes, portrayed as worse
We see someone who contradicts stereotypes, he is respected by the duke, eloquent, elevated sacred language, tells us about his past in a poetic way/language, shows a man who talks in religious Christian terms to emphasise he does belong,
Doesn’t fit the stereotype of woman's role, didn’t have…

Shakespeare’s
Othello
­­ 4 Paragraph Essay
Prompt 3: Handkerchief
Helen Fisher once said, “
Once you fall for someone, their smell can be a powerful thing. Women
will wear their boyfriend's' T-shirts, and throughout tales in history men have held on to their lover's
handkerchief.” Items are given symbolism even something as insignificant as what wipes one’s nose.
Things can become tokens of love, remembrance, tests, fidelity and much more. In
Othello
, written by
Shakespeare, Iago is angry…

society. This concept of power is explored in both Shakespeare’s play Othello and in Toni Morrison’s novel The Bluest Eye. The texts highlight how power can act as a disempowering force, ultimately resulting in the degradation of an individual to the stereotypical views, which societies hold. Relationships define how individuals should act within their society either limiting, regulating or enhancing their role. The tragic hero, Othello, reveals the fragility of the human condition and the controlling…

think Shakespeare’s Presentation of Othello Fulfils the Requirements of a Tragic Hero?
Aristotle’s criteria for a tragic hero is that the character: Comes from nobility, has a tragic flaw (caused by a simple mistake or a character flaw) which may be pride/hubris, undergoes a reversal of fortune (falls from high to low), has a downfall and recognizes his mistakes (in a catharsis or purgation of pity and fear). In Shakespeare’s play Othello it would seem that Othello fulfills this criteria except for…

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